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Alchemist, v. 1, issue 4, December 1940
Page 9
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----- ALCHEMIST ----- 9 speculations catastrophic in nature, but it must be remembered that it was always the misuse of advanced scientific principles and discoveries, in these tales, not science or scientific extension itself, which was the root of the disasters, whether physical or social. Frankenstein created a man, but it was mankind itself, not the monster in its own instincts and inclinations which made of Frankenstein's man a creation to be dreaded. Mrs. Shelley distinctly and unmistakebly showed the monster to be humane and kindly disposed until the inhumanity of men drove it to become a monster indeed. Frankenstein joined with the rest of mankind in brutal persecution. Plainly the "moral" of the story, if one must see a moral, is not directed against science or against the idea of man creating life in his own image. "Science" is not attacked, Thus the "Frankenstein" type of story (as it is popularity miscalled) does not in any way abrogate the thesis that science-fiction is mythological and utopian in nature. Thirdly: Science-fiction that is worthy of itself cannot help but look forward, but express belief in progress of all kinds, and in the ever increasing role of science in the progress of man to come. Thus we see that science-fiction is built upon no fragile and illusionary basis. The answer to our forst question, therefore, is "no". We now come to the second question: " Is there an element in current science-fiction that gives the suspicion of its all being an illusion?" Firstly: We must examine the nature of current science-fiction itself. Briefly, current science-fiction takes its form, for the most part,
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----- ALCHEMIST ----- 9 speculations catastrophic in nature, but it must be remembered that it was always the misuse of advanced scientific principles and discoveries, in these tales, not science or scientific extension itself, which was the root of the disasters, whether physical or social. Frankenstein created a man, but it was mankind itself, not the monster in its own instincts and inclinations which made of Frankenstein's man a creation to be dreaded. Mrs. Shelley distinctly and unmistakebly showed the monster to be humane and kindly disposed until the inhumanity of men drove it to become a monster indeed. Frankenstein joined with the rest of mankind in brutal persecution. Plainly the "moral" of the story, if one must see a moral, is not directed against science or against the idea of man creating life in his own image. "Science" is not attacked, Thus the "Frankenstein" type of story (as it is popularity miscalled) does not in any way abrogate the thesis that science-fiction is mythological and utopian in nature. Thirdly: Science-fiction that is worthy of itself cannot help but look forward, but express belief in progress of all kinds, and in the ever increasing role of science in the progress of man to come. Thus we see that science-fiction is built upon no fragile and illusionary basis. The answer to our forst question, therefore, is "no". We now come to the second question: " Is there an element in current science-fiction that gives the suspicion of its all being an illusion?" Firstly: We must examine the nature of current science-fiction itself. Briefly, current science-fiction takes its form, for the most part,
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